Elevator machine frame

ABSTRACT

An example elevator machine frame assembly ( 30 ) includes a plurality of support plates ( 32 ) configured to support at least selected portions of an elevator machine including a traction sheave ( 24 ). The support plates each comprise a plurality of mounting surfaces ( 50 ) that are aligned within a plane that intersects with an axis of rotation ( 56 ) of a traction sheave that is supported by the frame assembly. A plurality of support rods ( 36 ) are connected to the support plates ( 32 ). The support rods maintain a desired spacing between the plates and a desired alignment of the plates relative to each other. In a disclosed example, the support rods include a sound dampening material ( 44 ) such as sand in an interior of the rods.

BACKGROUND

Elevator systems typically include a machine assembly for moving theelevator car in a desired manner within a hoistway. Some elevatorsystems include a hydraulic arrangement for moving the elevator car.Other elevator systems are traction-based and utilize a ropingarrangement (e.g., round ropes or flat belts) for suspending theelevator car and a counterweight. Movement of a fraction sheave iscontrolled by a machine including a motor, drive and brake. There areknown techniques for controlling the movement and position of anelevator car and counterweight in a traction-based elevator system.

For many years elevator machines were located in a machine room outsideof the elevator hoistway. Typical arrangements included a machine roomon the roof of a building. More recently, machine roomless elevatorsystems have been introduced. In such systems, the elevator drive ispositioned within the hoistway because there is no longer a machineroom. While such arrangements provide for economic advantages, theyintroduce new challenges to designers of elevator systems.

One challenge presented to elevator designers is how to support theelevator machine within the hoistway. One proposal is shown in thePublished U.S. Application No. 2006/042882.

Another example challenge stems from placing the elevator machine withinthe hoistway because that introduces an additional source of noisewithin the hoistway. Noisy elevator systems tend to be undesirablebecause passengers may become annoyed or uncomfortable when hearingnoises during elevator operation. It is desirable to minimize the amountof noise within a hoistway that is the result of the elevator machineoperation.

SUMMARY

An exemplary elevator machine frame assembly includes a plurality ofsupport plates that are configured to support at least selected portionsof an elevator machine including a traction sheave. A plurality ofsupport rods are connected to the support plates near ends of thesupport rods. The support rods maintain a desired spacing between theplates and a desired alignment of the plates. Each of the support platesincludes a plurality of mounting surfaces that are aligned with a planethat intersects an axis of rotation of a traction sheave if a tractionsheave is supported on the frame assembly.

Another exemplary elevator machine frame assembly includes a pluralityof support plates configured to support at least selected portions of anelevator machine. A plurality of support rods are connected to thesupport plates near ends of the support rods. The support rods maintaina desired spacing between the plates and a desired alignment of theplaces. The support rods include at least one first material on anexterior of the rods and at least one second, different material on aninterior of the rods. The second material is a sound-dampening material.

The various features and advantages of the disclosed examples willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can bebriefly described as follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates an example elevator machine frameassembly designed according to an embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of selected portions of the example of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is an end view showing selected portions of the example of FIG.1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration of an example bearing assembly usedin one example embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional illustration taken along the lines 5-5 inFIG. 4.

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a portion of an example process ofassembling an elevator machine frame arrangement.

FIG. 7 schematically shows a subsequent step in the example process.

FIG. 8 schematically shows a subsequent step in the example process.

FIG. 9 schematically shows a subsequent step in the example process.

FIG. 10 schematically shows a subsequent step in the example process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A disclosed example elevator machine frame assembly includes uniquefeatures that reduce an amount of noise associated with operation of acorresponding elevator machine.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an example elevator machine assembly 20 thatincludes a motor 22, a traction sheave 24 and a brake portion 26. Themotor portion 22 causes desired movement of the traction sheave 24 thatresults in associated movement of an elevator load bearing assembly(e.g., a roping arrangement comprising flat belts or round ropes) andassociated movement of an elevator car. The brake assembly 26 applies abraking force to slow down movement of the traction sheave or to preventit from moving when an elevator car is stationary at a landing, forexample. The motor portion 22 and the brake portion 26 operate in aknown manner.

The motor portion 22, traction sheave 24 and brake portion 26 in theillustrated example are all supported by an elevator machine frame 30.As can be appreciated from FIGS. 1 and 2, the example frame 30 includesa plurality of support plates 32 that are configured to support portionsof the elevator machine. Some example support plates are cast iron andothers comprise steel. In this example, bearing housings 34 aresupported by each of the support plates 32. The bearing housings 34accommodate bearings that facilitate rotation of the traction sheave 24,for example.

A plurality of support rods 36 are connected to the support plates 32near ends 38 of the support rods. The support rods 36 maintain a desiredspacing between the support plates 32 and a desired alignment of thesupport plates 32. In this example, the support plates 32 each include aplurality of recesses or counter sunk holes 40 associated with openingsthrough which a portion of the support rods 36 are received. In theillustrated example, fastening members 42 secure the support plates 32relative to the support rods 36. The illustrated fastening members 42comprise threaded nuts that are received over threaded portions of theends 38 of the example support rods 36. Another example includes weldedconnections between support rods and support plates. In another example,the support rods and the support plates are part of a single casting.

While the illustrated example includes four support rods 36, it ispossible to use fewer support rods or more, depending the needs of aparticular situation. One example includes two support rods 36. Giventhis description, those skilled in the art will be able to select anappropriate number of support rods and to configure the correspondingsupport plates accordingly to meet the needs of their particularsituation.

As can be appreciated from FIG. 2, each of the support rods 36 comprisesan outer shell that is filled with a sound-dampening material 44 alongat least a portion of the length of each support rod 36. In one example,approximately ¾ of the length of each support rod 36 is filled with thesound-dampening material 44. In one example, the exterior surface of theouter shell of the support rods comprises at least one of steel or iron.In one example, the sound-dampening material 44 comprises at least oneof sand or foam. Including the sound-dampening material 44 within thesupport rods 36 provides a noise-reducing feature of the example frame30. The sound-dampening material 44 reduces noises otherwise associatedwith vibrations of the machine during operation.

Another noise reducing feature of the example frame 30 includes anarrangement of mounting surfaces 50 of the support plates 32. As can beappreciated from FIG. 3, mounting surfaces 50 are associated withoppositely facing sides of each support plate 32. The mounting surfaces50 are configured to be received upon a corresponding structural member52 within a hoistway, for example.

The example mounting surfaces 50 are aligned with each other within aplane 54. In the illustrated example, all four mounting surfaces 50(e.g., two mounting surfaces 50 per plate 32) are coplanar with eachother. The plane 54 including the mounting surfaces 50 intersects anaxis of rotation 56 of the traction sheave 24 when the traction sheave24 is appropriately supported by the machine 32. In this example, theaxis of rotation 56 coincides with a centerline of the traction sheave24, which coincides with a centerline of an opening 57 that accommodatesa bearing housing 34.

Positioning the mounting surfaces 50 within the plane 54, whichintersects with the axis of rotation 56, provides a noise-reducingfeature of the example frame 30. Arranging the mounting surfaces 50 asshown in the illustrated example reduces torsional vibration modes ofthe elevator machine assembly 20. In one example, a noise reductionfactor on the order of 2.5 dB is achieved by using the example mountingsurface arrangements.

The example of FIG. 3 includes an additional noise-reducing feature. Inthis example, isolation pads 58 are associated with each of the mountingsurfaces 50. The isolation pads 58 comprise a compliant material that issofter than the metal material used for making the support plates 32.Example materials useful as the isolation pads 58 comprise natural orsynthetic rubber. Other elastomeric materials that are compliant anduseful for enhancing dampening of vibrational energy are useful, also.The softer material of the isolation pads 58 reduces vibration and noisetransmission between the support plates 32 and the structural members52. In one example, the isolation pads 58 are secured to the mountingsurfaces 50. In another example, the isolation pads 58 are formed aspart of the support plates 32 such that they are an integrated part ofthe support plates 32.

In the illustrated example, the mounting surfaces 50 are on flanges thatprotrude from oppositely facing plate edges. In this example, anentirety of each plate 32 including the flanges and the mountingsurfaces 50 is formed as a single piece of material. One exampleincludes casting or shaping a metal to achieve a single-piece,monolithic structure for each of the support plates 32.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, an example bearing housing 34 includes anouter ring portion 62 and an inner ring portion 64. An insert 66 ispositioned between the outer ring portion 62 and the inner ring portion64. The insert 66 in this example is made from a different material thanthat used for the outer ring portion 62 and inner ring portion 64. Theinsert 66 has a noise-reducing or noise dampening coefficient. Oneexample includes poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide (e.g., KEVLAR™).

The bearing housings 34 provide a noise-reducing effect by being anintermediate component between the support plates 32 and the bearingsused for facilitating rotational movement of the traction sheave 24, forexample. If the bearings were situated directly against the supportplates 32, there would be additional vibration and, therefore,additional noise. The bearing housings 34 facilitate reducing suchvibration and associated noise generation.

The insert 66 further reduces noise because it comprises anoise-reducing material to provide additional damping effects resultingin less noise.

Any one of the noise-reducing features of the example frame 30 could beused alone to achieve a lower-noise elevator machine arrangement. Acombination of two or more of them will provide enhanced noise-reductionin many examples. Given this description, those skilled in the art willbe able to select one or all of the noise-reducing features of theillustrated example to achieve a desired amount of noise control fortheir particular situation.

Another feature of the example elevator machine assembly 20 is that itfacilitates an efficient assembly process. One example process begins bysituating at least a housing of the motor portion 22 as schematicallyshown in FIG. 6. One of the support plates 32 is then supported on thehousing of the motor portion 22 as schematically shown in FIG. 7.

The plurality of support rods 36 are next connected with the supportplate 32 as schematically shown in FIG. 8. The other support plate 32 isthen connected to opposite ends of the support rods 36 as schematicallyshown in FIG. 9. The arrangement shown in FIG. 9 is then well situatedto receive the traction sheave 24 and any associated motor components asschematically shown in FIG. 10. In this example, the traction sheave 24and associated motor components are inserted through the inner portions64 of the bearing housings 34, which are positioned within the openings57 of the support plates 32.

As can be appreciated from the drawings, the example assembly processmay be completed prior to shipping the assembled elevator machineassembly 20 to a location where it will be installed as part of anelevator system. Alternatively, it is possible to perform the assemblyprocess on site at the location of the elevator system because theassembly process is relatively straight-forward.

The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature.Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may becomeapparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart fromthe essence of this invention. The scope of legal protection given tothis invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.

1. An elevator machine frame assembly, comprising: a plurality ofsupport plates configured to support at least selected portions of anelevator machine including a traction sheave, each of the support platescomprises a plurality of mounting surfaces that are aligned within aplane that intersects with an axis of rotation of the traction sheave ifthe traction sheave is supported by the frame assembly; and a pluralityof support rods connected to the support plates near ends of the supportrods, the support rods maintain a desired spacing between the supportplates and a desired alignment of the support plates.
 2. The assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the plane is horizontal when the mounting surfaces arereceived upon a corresponding structure.
 3. The assembly of claim 1,wherein the mounting surfaces are all parallel with each other.
 4. Theassembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting surfaces are on flanges thatprotrude from edges of the support plates.
 5. The assembly of claim 4,wherein an entirety of each support plate including the flanges isformed as a single piece of material.
 6. The assembly of claim 1,comprising isolation pads on at least some of the mounting surfaces. 7.The assembly of claim 1, wherein the support rods comprise a firstmaterial on an exterior of the rods and a second, different material onan interior of the rods.
 8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the secondmaterial comprises a sound-dampening material.
 9. The assembly of claim7, wherein the second material comprises sand.
 10. The assembly of claim1, comprising a bearing housing supported by each support plate, eachbearing housing having an outer portion, an inner portion and an insertbetween the outer and inner portions.
 11. The assembly of claim 10,wherein the insert comprises a material that is different from amaterial of the inner or outer portions.
 12. The assembly of claim 11,wherein the insert comprises a sound-dampening material.
 13. Theassembly of claim 11, wherein the insert comprises poly-paraphenyleneterephthalamide and each of the inner and outer portions comprise ametal.
 14. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the inner portion, outerportion and the insert each comprise a ring and the rings areconcentric.
 15. An elevator machine frame assembly, comprising: aplurality of support plates configured to support at least selectedportions of an elevator machine including a traction sheave; and aplurality of support rods connected to the support plates near ends ofthe support rods, the support rods maintain a desired spacing betweenthe support plates and a desired alignment of the support plates, eachof the support rods having an exterior body comprising at least onefirst material and at least one second, different material on aninterior of the support rods.
 16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein thesecond material comprises a sound-dampening material.
 17. The assemblyof claim 15, wherein the second material comprises sand.
 18. A method ofassembling an elevator machine frame comprising the steps of: situatingat least a portion of a motor in a desired position; placing an elevatorframe support plate against the portion of the motor; connecting aplurality of support rods to the support plate; connecting anothersupport plate to the support rods such that the support plates arespaced from each other and in a desired alignment with each other. 19.The method of claim 18, comprising securing a bearing housing to each ofthe support plates.
 20. The method of claim 18, comprising inserting atraction sheave and an associated motor component through an opening inthe second support plate and at least a portion of the associated motorcomponent through a corresponding opening in the first support plate.